Glendale News Press, CA
May 16 2008

Assistant superintendent takes job in Pasadena

Educator who has been with Glendale Unified for 30-plus years calls
move her `toughest decision.’

By Angela Hokanson
Published: Last Updated Friday, May 16, 2008 10:00 PM PDT

GLENDALE – Alice Petrossian, the assistant superintendent who oversees
educational services for the Glendale Unified School District’s 20
elementary schools, will leave the district this summer to take a
position as chief academic officer of the Pasadena Unified School
District, the districts announced Friday.

Petrossian, who has been with Glendale Unified for more than 30 years
and has been in her current position for 11, will oversee everything
on the education side, from prekindergarten to secondary education, in
her new role in Pasadena, she said.

The move is a promotion for Petrossian, as her new position is akin to
that of a deputy superintendent, a position that Glendale Unified does
not have, according to Glendale school officials.

But it wasn’t an easy one for her to make, Petrossian said, as she has
such a long-standing connection to Glendale schools as a professional
and parent.

`It was probably the toughest decision in my life,’ she said of her
recent career move.

Pasadena officials started pursuing her about the job more than a
month ago, and were patient with her while she made up her mind, she
said.

`They finally convinced me that there was a lot that needed to be
done, and I was the one to do it,’ she said.

Pasadena Unified Supt. Edwin Diaz’s vision was an important factor in
her decision to take on the new post, she said.

`He would like to make sure that the students in Pasadena have access
to the most rigorous curriculum and the opportunity to achieve and
meet their potential,’ she said.

`Those are the kind of things we’ve worked on in Glendale.’

Petrossian’s new job is a `key leadership post critical to the
execution of academic improvement strategies to raise student
achievement,’ according to Pasadena Unified.

The job entails working with the superintendent to realize student
achievement, working with stakeholders to refine instruction, and
target services to meet all students’ needs, according to the school
district.

Petrossian’s decision won’t likely be easy for others in Glendale
schools whom she has advised and mentored.

`It’s always hard to replace people who have really grown up with the
district and have really led the way,’ said Joanna Junge, the
district’s director of special projects and intercultural education,
who has worked with Petrossian for years.

Junge views Petrossian as a mentor.

`I just admire so much everything she’s done for the English learners
in the district in particular,’ Junge said.

Petrossian started her education career as a teacher in Northern
California.

She has been with Glendale Unified since 1977, as a specialist in
bilingual education and as the director of intercultural education,
among other positions.

She has helped bring a diverse community together, school board
President Joylene Wagner said.

And she has always maintained her commitment to putting children
first, said Janet Buhl, principal of Verdugo Woodlands Elementary
School.

`We’re going to miss her dearly,’ Buhl said.

Petrossian will certainly aid Pasadena in reaching its goals, as she
has done in Glendale, Supt. Michael Escalante said.

`Alice has done a tremendous job for the district over many, many
years,’ he said.

`This is a great opportunity for her to move to the next level.’

/2008/05/17/education/gnp-petrossian17.txt